Ground-contacting surface for shoe soles



Oct. 9, 1951 l. HOFFENBERG 2,570,949

GROUNO-CONTAOTINO SURFACE EOE SHOE SOLES Filed Jan. l0, 1951 Il l/I/IIII IIIIIIIII llll vEToR ATTOILE rl fum-TED STATE Patented Oct. 9, 1951 amonio j i GROUND-CONTACTING SURFACE FOR I SHOE SOLES Isidor Hoffen'bverg, Milford, Conn., `assignor to A.

' poration of New York 4 Thisinventlon relates to shoe soles" and more particularly is concerned withthe ground-contacting surfaces for the outsoles of shoes which haveimproved traction characteristics and have longer life in wear without impairing the ilexibility of the sole and without adding greatly'to the weight and the bulk of said outsole.

In the production of rubb-er and composition Vs hoe soles, i. e. including the forepart, shank and ,heel portions, various forms of ground-contacting vprojections extending outwardlyV from the general plane of the sole have been adopted to increase the traction characteristics of said soles. How-r ever, a shoe sole is subject to considerable flexing so that the sole must have great flexibility along its longitudinal axis, that is', the axis running Vvgenerally from'the forepart ofthe sole, through the shank, to the heel. There must bel a par- Y ticularly great amount of e'xibility on the longitudinal axis in the area between lthe shank and the toe beneath the ball of the foot. When the projections which are provided on soles extend parallel to the longitudinal axis or diagonally thereto and add thickness to the sole along that laxis in the area beneath the ball of the foot,1the `rigidity of the sole is increased and the ilexi- :bility thereof is impaired.

such transverse ribs are provided with auxiliary Ldiagonal or longitudinal ribs in order to increase the transverse traction.

l However, the addition of such ribs either parallel or diagonal reduce the flexibility of the sole. -An' important object of the present invention is to provide an outsole having improved longitudinal and `transverse traction characteristics without any material reduction of the flexibility of the sole.

Another object of the invention is to provide an 'outsole' which will have an increased wearing life without greatly increasing the Weight or bulk of the sole.

A Suu further object is to provide an outsoie which retains improved traction characteristics throughout its useful life.

The invention-includes a groundecontacting Werman & Sons, Inc., BrooklynLN. Y., a cor- *l Application January 1o, 1951*,seria1'Noi2o52s7' veranos. (c1. 3e-59) surface for thesoles of shoes having 4parallel'ribs projecting from the plane of a shoe sole, the axes of said ribs being disposed at substantially right angles to an axis running the length of the sole from Ythe heel to the toe. Each of the ribs is providedy with a plurality of spaced projections formed on itssurface, the projections extending 'out'wardlyfrom the axis of the rib and substantially transverse thereto. Similar parallel projection-bearing ribs are provided on the raised heel which is afxed to the sole. The ribs on the heel, however, do not extend above the plane of the raised heel but only outward'to co-planar relation with the heel from a centrally disposed area recessed below the plane of said heel. l

For a more complete description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 isa plan view of a s'hoe sole,V including Ma heel, embodying the invention; -1

Fig.l 2 is a side view of the sole; I '4 v" Fig.`3 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the sole, taken parallel to the longitudinal *axis of the sole;v s

y, Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the solejbefore it has been subjected to Wear; and ',Fig. 5 is an enlarged'plan View ofa portion4 of n vthe sole after it has been -subjected to wear.

The sole I0, which is the ground-contacting or outsole for attachment to a shoe, includes a forepart II, a shank I2 and heel I3. suitably flexible material such as rubber or composition plastic material may be used to form `the sole I0 with the desired traction characteristics.

Referring rst to the configuration of that porvtion of sole from the shank I2 to the toe I5, the sole is formed with a substantially planar surface I6 which extends around the margin 43 of forepart II and across the shank I2. The sole I0 is provided with a centrally disposed portion Il projecting above the -plane of the sole surface I 6.

The forepart I I of the sole It] is subjected to great wear in the areaindicated at I7 and therefore theraised portion by adding increased thickness to the sole increases the wearing life of the sole. The raised portion I1 includes a raised pad I8 adjacent to theV toe I5. The pad I8 may be solid and provided with suitable traction improving means such as the cross hatching shown.

- Extending from the rear of the toe pad I8 to the beginning of the shank I2, the raised portion I'I Yis formed of a series of parallel, spaced ribs 20 projecting from the pla-ne of the surfaceI I6. The axes 2 I, indicated by dottedlines in Fig. l, of the ribs, are disposed across the sole so that they run transversely to the longitudinal axis 22, i. e., the

axis extending from the rear 23 of the heel I3 to the toe I5, indicated by dot-dash lines in Fig. 1.

The parallel ribs may be of any suitable cross-sectional shape, and for purposes of illustration are shown as being generally frustopyramidal in form, the base or broader portion of the ribs being integrally joined to the surface I6 of the fsolell Ii. TThefiibs ZUlarefprovitledwith projectionsextending upwardlya'nd outwardly from the axes 2I of the ribs.

taper, toward the planar surface I6, into the sides 3`I of ribs 25 so that there"is`jno kaddition"sothe thickness of sole IU betweentheribs'whichwould cause a loss of flexibility in the critical area along the longitudinal axis 22 betweenthe-tbelpad 218" and the portion 25. 4 y t In use the projections 28 serve the important -function of providing traction against side slip- "truncated tops 325V The interruptions providedfby the-projections 28 increase' the fric'tionalH drag -v I-t vvillfbe notedthat theiproje'ctions28'with their` extensions `vfrom the' sides l3I as well as ironithe Vtruncated top 32 *of the ribs `2," provide good traction' even after' wear has abraded the Vwhen slippingofA the vsole Voccursalong i the axes .iibsto a'levelsuch `as that indicated by the dotfda'shlineSB inFig. 3.` Fig''sh'ows an enlarged plan vietvwi'thefsho'esole I0 'after'` it has been subjected to Wear,-` down to the/level indicatedjby Ltheline 33"in Figl.v Theproj'ections'23 at the "level indicated continue to act as'effective interruptions of the straightlines 34"form`ed Aby the o sides 3Iand the worn'down topsof 'th'eribsL which' the Jgreatest"exibilitys required are, 'as

l, I0.: The marginal 'areas36, 'shown iriFig.l l, are

substantially co-planar and lie in theplan'e of the surface 35.--.- Acentrally disposed recess- 37kis `formed 'in the heele Y The floorv 38x. Iofthe recess is 'a plane substantially parallel to the yground-contacting surface 35 of the heel. Ribs which are kparalleb to Veach other and-spaced apart kkproject from the floor 38. The axes 4I, indicated bythe ldotted lines in Fig.- l, of Vthe ribs fill, are substantially. at right anglesto the longitudinal axis 22 .ofthe sole I9. It will be noted that the ribs of the sole and the ribs 2B of theheelare parallel to each other. Y Y

Projections 2 are i'ormed on each of the ribs d vand extend outwardly-from each of the` axes 4I. The ribs il and their projections 42 may be of the same general conguration as the ribs 20 .and projections 28,-or they rmay be of any other suitable shape. For purposes of illustrating another form which .the ribs and projections may take,v the ribsv i6 `are shown las having-fy arcuate The projections 28Y on each rib are spaced apart along the rib and are disposed substantially transverse-to the axis", 2 I. In the embodiment shown, the projections 28 decorativefpurpses. f f

, ground.

cross-sections (see Fig. 2). The projections 42 on the ribs 4D may be spiral in form running diagonally to the axes 4I. The portions of the ribs 40 and their projections 42 remote from the floor 38 of the recess lie substantially in the plane 35 of the heel I3. t

The; projections 42vv which'are' arranged substantially transverse tothe axesdl o'f ithe ribs 40 serve as a means for improving the traction characteristics of the heel portion of the sole to reduce the possibilityvoi'slipping sidewise, l. e. parallel to the axes 4I.

The ribs 40 varranged transversely to the longivtudinal'l axis "22 serve in the same manner as the ribs2i!"towiprevent slipping or loss of traction parallel tothe axis 22.

, Atzthe portion of the forepart II adjacent the shank I2, an area 25 may be provided on which a. suitablelegend such asa trade-mark or other device may be formed in raised characters or other- 'shownland will assist in'iincreasin'g Athe"'Weaifn'g The; endi2l1 ofthe-'areaf25 may have'th burv'etl "form shovvnlor-'have any'suitable" con'guratioiii'for The area;- inwnicn the Y greatest nek'bnityjis needed lalong fthe longitudinal i axis2 2 is lbetween thejpad" sy and the portion 25; cpnjsequenuyno continuous 'thickened portion v`runningpar'allelfto the said longitudinal 'axis'i's providedwhi'chwould reduce flexibility in' that'area. l o u y .In use'the's'ole lil vvill"`fl"exlsoV that the* toe pi I 8, the', portions of the projections `28"ajvc`:r'ors's the truncated tops 32 'oftneiribszm andthesurfae 35 of the heel 'I3' Will be'in' contact with the The Wearerof shoes having .outsoles .embodying Ymy invention is protected against'length'sivise slippage :by Vthe ribs 2Il'and`ll andagainst side Aslippage bythe projections 28Aan`lf42". .Ther-sole has'a longer wearing life due-to the'increased thickness provided by the,toepadgl 8 theribsf2'0,

` and the portion-25; but there is little orfnogdinif lnution of the-iiexibilityfof the'sole for 'there jisno continuous thickening of'r the lsole;parallelitothe Furthermore, 'the' increased Wearinglife :of'the sole is achieved Withoutfrnateriallyincreas-ing the Weight-'vor-bulk of the sole,as Would result if rthe `entire solefwere thickened.n

The-fmargin's43'offth`e'forepart II are leftfree Vof' ribs or Iother-projectionsso that Ythel'ou'tsl'e maybe readily stitched or l"otherwise fattac'h'e'dl'to ashoe and also because Fith'as been found thatby thefprovision of 'thejraisedribs'fin vthe central portionk which' is the area `of 'greatest Wear; there Ais substantially; nol Wear 'adjacent themarginsgoi the sole. Further-incre, lif'the ribs' were extended to `the edges of the sole, the Vweight*'andbiillof thesole would "be increased so that tit' Lwould" be quite clumsy;

In accordance with thejprovisioris of thepatent statutes; I have 'described herein 'the principles of thisinvention, Atogether Withthe best mode of Carrying f'outthSeprinciples." YHOtVYei-.it Will ybe understood that the` structure ldisclosedisonly illustrative and the invention maybe carried out by other means. v rAlso,` while it is designed to use the various features andel'ements in the combination and relations described,-"someV of these may be altered and modified Ways other than those suggested without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A ground contacting surface for the sole of a shoe, having a forepart, a shank, and a heel portion, comprising, a planar outer surface of the sole, parallel ribs projecting from the plane of said surface, the axis of said ribs being disposed at substantially right angles to an axis running from the heel through the shank and the forepart of the sole, each of said ribs having a plurality of projections integrally formed thereon extending outwardly from the axis of the rib.

2. In a shoe sole having a forepart, a shank and a heel portion, a ground contacting surface projecting from the plane surface of the forepart, comprising, a plurality of parallel spaced ribs projecting from the plane surface of the forepart,

the axes of said ribs being disposed transversely I to an axis running longitudinally along thesole from the heel to the forepart and a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the axis of each of said ribs and integrally formed thereon, the projections being substantially transverse to the axes of the ribs.

3. A ground contacting surface for the sole and heel in a shoe having a planar forepart and shank, and a planar heel portion raised above the plane of the forepart and shank, comprising, a plurality of spaced parallel ribs, projecting from the plane of the iorepart, having their axes dis-4 posed substantially at right angles to an axis of the sole which runs from the heel to the forepart, a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the axis of each oi said ribs, a centrally disposed recess formed in the plane of the heel, having parallel ribs formed on the fdoor of said recess and extending outwardly to the plane of said heel, the axes of the ribs formed in the heel recess being substantially transverse to the axis of the sole, and a plurality of projections extending outwardly from the axes of the ribs in the heel recess.

4. The ribs of claim l having generally frustopyramidal cross sections with the base of each rib being integral with the planar surface of the forepart of the sole.

5. In a shoe sole having a forepart, a shank and a heel portion, an outer surface provided on the heel portion, comprising, a planar surface extending about the marginal edges of the heel portion and adapted to contact the ground, said heel portion being formed with a centrally disposed recess having a recessed floor parallel to the ground contacting surface of said heel, a plul.. rality of parallel spaced ribs projecting from the floor of the recessed portion, the axes of said ribs being transversely disposed to an axis of the sole running from the heel to the forepart of the sole, projections formed on said ribs and extending outwardly from the axis of each rib so that the portions oi the projections on the ribs which are most remote from the recessed floor areV substantially co-planar with rthe planar ground contacting surface of the heel.

6. A ground contacting surface for a shoe sole and heel in a shoe having a planar forepart andy shank and a planar heel portion raised above the plane of the forepart and shank, comprising, in combination a plurality of spaced parallel ribs formed to project from the plane of the central part of the forepart, said ribs having their axes disposed substantially at right angles to an axis of the sole which runs from the heel to the forepart, a plurality of projections formed on said parallel ribs and extending outwardly from the axis of each of said ribs, a centrally disposed recess formed in the planar surface of the heel, said recess having a iloor parallel to said planar surface of the heel, a plurality of parallel spaced ribs formed to project from the door of the recessed portion, the axes of said ribs being disposed at right angles to the axis or" the sole, projections formed on the ribs in the recessed heel portion and extending outwardly from the axis of each of said ribs, the ribs in the heel portionr extending outwardly so that their outward extension lies substantially in the plane of the heel.

'7. A ground contacting surface for a shoe sole and heel in a shoe having a planar forepart and shank and a planar 'neel portion raised above the plane of the forepart and shank, comprising, in combination, a plurality of spaced parallel ribs formed to project from the plane of the central part of the forepart, said ribs having their axes disposed substantially at right angles to an axis of the sole which runs from the heel to the forepart, a plurality of projections formed on said parallel ribs and extending outwardly from the axis of each of said ribs, a toe pad projecting from the plane of the forepart adjacent the toe of the sole, a raised pad formed on the planar surface of the forepart in an area adjacent the shank, a centrally disposed recess formed in the planar surface of the heel, said recess having a floor parallel to said planar surface of the heel, a plurality of parallel spaced ribs formed to project from the door of-the recessed portion, the axes of said ribs being disposed at right angles to the axis of the sole, projections formed on the ribs in the recessed heel portion and extending outwardly from the axis of each of said ribs, the ribs in the heel portion extending outwardly so that their outward extensions lie substantially in the plane of the heel.

ISIDOR HOFFENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 25,594 Plant June 2, 1896 306,561 Vaughan Oct. 14, 1884 322,224 Watkinson July 14, 1885 485,459 Crocker Nov. 1, 1892 1,524,782 Clarke Feb. 3, 1925 1,765,155 l-Ieady June 1'7, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,617 Great Britain Feb. 2, 1914 of 1913 613,656 Germany May 23, 1915 

